YEAR OF CULTURE FOR GIBRALTAR

Gibraltar’s Minister for Tourism has officially launched the nation’s “year of culture”.

The Minister, Gilbert Licudi (pictured above), launched the Gibraltar Tourism Board’s new campaign at the World Travel Market in London.

GTB Chief Executive, Nicky Guerrero

For the first time in its history, the GTB held a major press conference at the WTM International Media Centre where the new campaign was unveiled by Mr Licudi, along with GTB Chief Executive, Nicky Guerrero.

In his address, Mr Licudi stressed that Gibraltar continues to grow as a tourist destination as is evidenced by the imminent opening of the Holiday Inn Express hotel and by two other hotel projects in the planning process. Mr Licudi also stressed that while Gibraltar’s traditional tourist product, ‘based on beaches, monkeys, caves and the Upper Rock’ will continue to be important, the new campaign will focus on chess, backgammon, the literary festival, the music festival, the food festival and sports tourism.

“It is not about designating any particular year as the year of culture,” he said, “but about celebrating the richness of our culture which we enjoy week in, week out, throughout the year – every year.”

Mr Guerrero, meanwhile, stressed the significance of the Island Games which will bring over 2,000 athletes to the Rock in 2019.

He also spelled out the themes of the campaign, “History, pageantry, wildlife, nature, cuisine, heritage, music, the arts, literature, sports, architecture and religious influences – all these influences will be captured in the ‘Year of Culture.”